Champions League Contention

[Brend'Watkins]

5th place might get CL. Okay, it might be the rule and we’d take it if given to us. It’s a bit false though isn’t it? We’re there for finishing 5th, even 4th is no great shakes if we’re being honest but it’s been the top 4 for a while now. We should be pushing for 3rd especially if Arsenal lose out tomorrow v B Munchen.

[PeterWithesShin]

We should be aiming as high as possible but there's nothing false about it. We're only in the Conference this season because a side higher than us won the LC. We finished 5th in the Championship, 7 points behind 3rd but were still promoted instead of them, as a couple of examples. We don't make the rules, the rules exist the same for everyone, so if we benefit from them it's because we're better than the rest.

[Percy McCarthy]

And no reason not to support Real Madrid against Man City. It would be most delightful to see Man City go out.

Yeah, it would be delightful if we finish fifth and don’t get Champions League. I’m bored of it now anyway, we’re in it every year.

[Percy McCarthy]

One of the best things about England securing the fifth place would be being able to fully focus on the UECL  (fingers crossed) semi-final and final. Rest players etc.

[Demitri_C]

I want us to win this trophy more than CL but i think if we go out to lille we will get 4th as our fixture list become lighter with one game a week compared to spurs veey tiring and tough games. Its going to be veey tough on spurs playing all those games in such a short space of time.

On the flip side i think if we beat lille we should have too much for olympiakos or fenebache as they dont look as good as lille

[olaftab]

One of the best things about England securing the fifth place would be being able to fully focus on the UECL  (fingers crossed) semi-final and final. Rest players etc.

Yes however that is u likely now after Dortmund winning and both pool and WH getting knocked out tonight. We will not know till both us and man city lift the cups.

[Demitri_C]

One of the best things about England securing the fifth place would be being able to fully focus on the UECL  (fingers crossed) semi-final and final. Rest players etc.

Yes however that is u likely now after Dortmund winning and both pool and WH getting knocked out tonight. We will not know till both us and man city lift the cups.

Those games tomorrow its the gooners tonight. But i know what you mean

Just gotta hope liverpool do one of those incredible comebacks that tehy are capable of. If atlanta think they are through and take the game lightly liverpool are capable of battering them.

[Baldy]

Wouldn't be surprised if Unai has banned all talk of '5th ' place at the club. Defeatist attitude.

Six more points (total 69) and mathematically Geordies, Man U, Hammers and Chelsea can not catch us. Only Spurs left in the race and would be surprised if they got more than 8 points from their remaining fixtures.

After Lille, Unai will be fully focused on getting the 3 points against Cherries and pushing for the 3rd spot in league. He wont settle for 6 points, he will want 15.

[darren woolley]

I really want us to get CL football after the season we have had just five games left we can do this.

[Risso]

A win against Bournemouth at the weekend puts massive pressure on Spurs. 6 points clear with a minimum of +4 goals in front is huge when their next three games are Arsenal, Chelea and Liverpool.

[Dave]

A win against Bournemouth at the weekend puts massive pressure on Spurs.

...and we all know what happens next.

[PaulWinch again]

A win against Bournemouth at the weekend puts massive pressure on Spurs.

...and we all know what happens next.

Indeed. It would be really nice if we matched the level/standard of performance we hit against Arsenal. It’ll be a different type of game, but it’s stuff like concentration, intensity etc that are key.

[Somniloquism]

We should be aiming as high as possible but there's nothing false about it. We're only in the Conference this season because a side higher than us won the LC. We finished 5th in the Championship, 7 points behind 3rd but were still promoted instead of them, as a couple of examples. We don't make the rules, the rules exist the same for everyone, so if we benefit from them it's because we're better than the rest.

A Champs League bound team winning one of the cups is pretty much a given in the last 15 years. We finished one place above spurs last year, we can do it again.

[Somniloquism]

I was saying about it months ago, must admit back then I wasn't convinced we'd be in the mix come April.

The only time in the last 7 seasons when England didn't finish top 2, which is what's needed for a 5th spot, was the last time 8 English teams were in Europe as it means every win by an English club will be worth slightly less to the coefficient score because it's an average of eight clubs rather than seven.

And when two of those eight clubs shit the bed in the Group stages it makes it doubly difficult. That said the other 6 have done some heavy lifting and having 5 clubs in the quarters is still some going.

West Ham are the 8th club, and until meeting Leverkusen, had been doing great for our points total (although they could have done with not losing to Freiburg first leg of the knockouts).

[Smithy]

Also worth bearing in mind that Liverpool and West Ham winning the second legs, but still going on out aggregate would be a big help to the coefficient.  Them winning their second legs (but still going out) would be worth more to us than Dortmund getting to the semis but losing both games to PSG.